Edward Echwalu Uganda

[jtk]

Edward Echwalu​

BasedKampala, UgandaBornSoroti, UgandaStatusPhotographer

“You want to be a great photographer? Then learn to be patient.”

 

[jtk]

LGBT in Uganda: Messages for the pope

African gays, who often face persecution in the streets and sometimes prosecution in courts, have a simple plea for Pope Francis ahead of his first visit to the continent: bring a message of tolerance even if you will not bless our sexuality.

widerimage.reuters.com

 

[awty]

I don't think the photos project the story very well. Could go with any story of young disenfranchised men.

 

[jtk]

awty, fwiw I don't think the photos depict people who are "disinfranchised" so much as people who are stepping out.

 

[awty]

awty, fwiw I don't think the photos depict people who are "disinfranchised" so much as people who are stepping out.

I get a sense of social isolation and thats about all. Photos are very generic, bog standard looking out windows, back to the camera, photos taken in abandon building etc, no sense of place, identity, cause or hope. Uganda is not the worst place in the world to be gay.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

I get a sense of social isolation and thats about all. Photos are very generic, bog standard looking out windows, back to the camera, photos taken in abandon building etc, no sense of place, identity, cause or hope. Uganda is not the worst place in the world to be gay.

Uganda, as many other African countries, is one of the worst place to be gay. By revealing themselves there are showing immense courage, and putting their lives at risk. They know they can be shown (not all, hence the turned back), but they can't afford to be recognized. That's why there's no sense of place, the setting as non identifyable as possible. Context could not be given, the actual where they are, and where they live, could not be hinted at. This is not about esthetics or originality. It's about the immense courage it took just to show themselves in front of a camera. Therein lies the hope.

 

[jvo]

Uganda, as many other African countries, is one of the worst place to be gay. By revealing themselves there are showing immense courage, and putting their lives at risk. ........... It's about the immense courage it took just to show themselves in front of a camera. Therein lies the hope.

and this story is 7 years old - which may not seem like a lot of time, but if you ask each of these subjects how it feels to be oppressed and hiding for so long they would likely report an agonizing eternity.

 

[awty]

Uganda, as many other African countries, is one of the worst place to be gay. By revealing themselves there are showing immense courage, and putting their lives at risk. They know they can be shown (not all, hence the turned back), but they can't afford to be recognized. That's why there's no sense of place, the setting as non identifyable as possible. Context could not be given, the actual where they are, and where they live, could not be hinted at. This is not about esthetics or originality. It's about the immense courage it took just to show themselves in front of a camera. Therein lies the hope.

Forgive my ignorance, the article was vague, like the photography. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Uganda
Unfortunately if you want to send a message you need to be more dramatic.
The young men were brave, society has let them down, obviously the Pope didnt help either.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Forgive my ignorance

Don't worry about it. We're all pretty much ignorant about what's going on in Africa beyond a few vague and general details. Media is to blame, mostly, as, at least in Canada, it is essentially turned towards Europe and has little interest regarding what happens beyond the Sahara unless there is a war, famine, or ebola.

Unfortunately, that lack of curiosity is shared by too many—bet if you asked Photrio members to spontaneously name at least three African photographers, most couldn't even come up with one.

And bet most people don't even realize how big the continent actually is. Blame Mercator for that:

 

[Arthurwg]

Thanks for posting. I did not know of the Reuters website. Very excellent. I love the photos on display, some of which are very tough. Many moons ago I traveled widely in Africa, finding it all very compelling.

 

[awty]

Edward Echwalu – Documentary Photographer